Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

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  • short reads

    Types of Apps Downloaded by Cell Phone and Tablet Users

    The most popular category of apps downloaded by cell phone and tablet users are ones that provide regular updates on news, weather, sports or stocks. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of app downloaders have used an app that serves one or more of these functions.

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    Generations and the 2012 Election

    Millennial voters favor President Obama by a 61% to 37% margin, while those over 65 –the Silent generation voters — favor Mitt Romney by a 54% to 41% margin, creating a generation gap of 20 points.

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    Americans and Text Messaging

    Young adults are the heaviest users of text messaging, sending or receiving an average of 87.7 text messages on a normal day.

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    Public Attitudes Toward Social Issues

    Americans are now almost evenly divided on the question of legalizing same-sex marriage. Opposition to same-sex marriage has fallen from 65% in 1996 to 46% in 2011 while 45% favor legalizing it.

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    For Millennials, Parenthood Trumps Marriage

    Today’s 18-to-29 year olds value parenthood more than marriage. Slightly more than half (52%) say being a good parent is one of the most important things in life; just 30% who say having a successful marriage is one the most important.

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    Obama Motivates Supporters, Opponents in Early 2012 Matchups

    Barack Obama is a leading driver of voter preferences in possible 2012 matchups, among both his supporters and opponents. A third of Obama supporters considered their choice a vote for him, while 33% of Mitt Romney backers saw it as a vote against Obama.

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    War and Sacrifice in the Post-9/11 Era

    Veterans of the post-9/11 wars found extra rewards as well as greater hardships stemming from their deployments. Six-in-ten said the experience of being deployed had a positive impact on their financial situation and nearly half (48%) said it put a strain on their marriages.

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    A Third in GOP Have Seen a Presidential Debate

    More than four-in-ten (43%) Republicans who watched at least one of the GOP presidential debates say it led them to change their mind about which candidate to support. Slightly more than half of Tea Party Republicans (51%) said the debates had prompted them to change their mind.